Federal Government 2306- Unit 1: Chapter 1
Americans' belief in self-government formed in ______.
Colonial America
Politics are necessary for which of the following reasons? 1. The people in a country all share the same thoughts. 2. Conflict in a society is inevitable. 3. People do not all think alike. 4. Society's resources are limited.
2. Conflict in a society is inevitable. 3. People do not all think alike. 4. Society's resources are limited.
A single individual controls governance in which of these forms of government?
autocracy
Which of the following statements about political institutions and interests in the United States is true? a. Most nations have more competing interests and institutions than the United States. b. Few nations have as many competing interests and institutions as the United States. c. The executive branch of the government wields almost all the power in the United States. d. Corporate leaders have little power in the United States compared to other countries.
b. Few nations have as many competing interests and institutions as the United States.
According to sociologist C. Wright Mills, who or what has greater control over economic policy than even elected officials have?
corporate elites
What term refers to the influence of business firms on public policy?
corporate power reason: Businesses make extensive use of lobbying, but so do other interest groups.
The state of California barred individual of Japanese descent from doing what?
purchasing property
Who should be blamed for a bad outcome when citizens of a democracy engage in wishful thinking?
the citizens themselves
Democracy may free the mind, but who determines how that freedom will be used?
the individual
Who is the "self" in the political ideal of self-government?
the people
The term party polarization refers to ______.
the situation resulting from the intense conflicts between Republicans and Democrats in recent years
Concerning power sharing, the United States is ______.
unique reason: Few nations have as many competing interests and institutions.
What best describes the ways in which our media system has presented obstacles to critical thinking in recent history? a. Some sources invent information that suits their purpose. b. Some sources purposely hide contradictory information. c. Media consumers fail to question media sources. d. All the answers are correct.
d. all of the answers are correct
Which of these is not considered to be a core value of American political ideals? a. self-government b. liberty c. equality d. collectivism
d. collectivism
The power exercised by well-positioned and highly influential individuals is known as ______.
elitism
Which of the following reflects the notion that all individuals have the same moral worth and treatment under the law?
equality
______ is a commitment to personal initiative and self-sufficiency.
individualism
When political leaders respond to the policy desires of more than half of the people, that system is referred to as ______.
majoritarianism
Compared to other countries, the United States holds ______.
more elections
In terms of opportunity, Black Americans today are ______.
not equal in terms of opportunities for a better life for their children
In a pluralist system, who or what would have the most influence on policies regarding regulation of Internet service providers?
the providers themselves
Which of the following were periods with high levels of bipartisanship in American history? 1. George Washington's first years as president 2. the Civil War 3. World War I 4. World War II
1. George Washington's first years as president 3. World War I 4. World War II
Which of the following are true of legal action? 1. It is a channel through which ordinary Americans exercise power. 2. It involves the Bill of Rights, an independent judiciary, and firm attachment to private property. 3. It has long been reserved for the wealthy elite class of American society. 4. It involves use of the courts to assert rights and interests.
1. It is a channel through which ordinary Americans exercise power. 2. It involves the Bill of Rights, an independent judiciary, and firm attachment to private property. 4. It involves use of the courts to assert rights and interests.
Which of the following statements are true about the motivations for creating American democracy? 1. The idea of individual potential could be achieved more easily in the New World than in the Old World. 2. The American Revolution sought to create a similar form of society as that of England. 3. Colonists, following Enlightenment ideas, wanted to overturn the European way of governing. 4. The American Revolution sought to create a radically different form of society.
1. The idea of individual potential could be achieved more easily in the New World than in the Old World. 3. Colonists, following Enlightenment ideas, wanted to overturn the European way of governing. 4. The American Revolution sought to create a radically different form of society.
Which of the following accurately describe higher education in the United States? 1. U.S. states with the lowest proportion of college grads have more residents with a bachelor's degree than the typical European country. 2. The United States has the most elaborate system of higher education in the world. 3. The United States ranks second only to Canada in the number of people over 25 with a college degree. 4. Every American youth has a realistic chance of attending college or university.
1. U.S. states with the lowest proportion of college grads have more residents with a bachelor's degree than the typical European country. 2. The United States has the most elaborate system of higher education in the world. 3. The United States ranks second only to Canada in the number of people over 25 with a college degree.
Which of the following correctly describes political culture? (Choose every correct answer.) 1. It is derived from the country's traditions. 2. It helps define the relationship between citizens and their government. 3. It helps define citizens' relationships to each other. 4. Only western countries have a recognizable political culture.
1. it is derived from the country's traditions. 2. It helps define the relationship between citizens and their government. 3. It helps define citizens' relationship to each other.
Which of the following are tools that political science offers to increase one's ability to think critically? 1. terms and concepts that precisely describe aspects of politics 2. systematic generalizations about major tendencies in American politics 3. opinions that confirm a citizen's already held beliefs 4. reliable information about how the U.S. political system operates
1. terms and concepts that precisely describe aspects of politics 2. systematic generalizations about major tendencies in American politics 4. reliable information about how the U.S. political system operates
Which of the following statements are true of economic power in the United States? 1. Business firms are prohibited from making political contributions that might influence government officials. 2. Firms have greater control over wages and working conditions than in other Western democracies. 3. Roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent business firms. 4. Corporate power operates in part through the influence that firms have with government officials.
2. Firms have greater control over wages and working conditions than in other Western democracies. 3. Roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent business firms. 4. Corporate power operates in part through the influence that firms have with government officials.
Which of the following were placed in the U.S. Constitution in order to prevent the tyranny of the majority? 1. supremacy clause 2. a bill of rights 3. separation of powers 4. checks and balances
2. a bill of rights 3. separation of rights 4. checks and balances
In the democratic system of the United States, which of the following possess legal authority to exercise power? 1. interest groups 2. judges 3. the president 4. members of Congress
2. judges 3. the president 4. members of Congress
Critical thinking should involve which of the following? 1. stating an opinion without fear of disapproval 2. recognizing how choices will affect one's interests and values 3. evaluating information carefully 4. putting aside one's own values and interests
2. recognizing how choices will affect one's interests and values 3. evaluating information carefully
Which of the following statements are true about American ideals and government? 1. American ideals are pessimistic. 2. Throughout U.S. history, the ideals of liberty and equality have been upheld for all Americans. 3. Americans believe that their government should have a high purpose. 4. Americans generally believe that government power should be widely shared.
3. Americans believe that their government should have a high purpose. 4. Americans generally believe that government power should be widely shared.
The text suggests that Americans tend especially toward selective memory and recasting history because ______.
Americans' beliefs are so idealistic
Why do citizens differ in their opinions even when their views are informed by the same facts?
People vary in what they value and need.
Which concept refers to the widely shared and deep-seated beliefs of people about their politics?
Political Culture
What role, generally, do politicians play in misinformation?
Politicians' deceptions have always been part of our politics, and they have contributed to the current rise in misinformation.
Upon what assumption was Chinese immigration to the United States suspended in 1882?
The Chinese were an inferior people.
What best explains why European governments gave the American colonies a degree of self-determination?
The geographical distance that separated them was too great to do otherwise.
How are the media treated under an authoritarian government?
They are tightly controlled.
True or false:True or false: When large numbers of Americans are misinformed and base their behavior on that misinformation, democracy is at risk.
True
The "two Americas" referenced in the text are ______.
White America and Black America
Compared to other countries, Americans have pursued their individual rights ______.
aggressively and in many areas
Political culture in the United States is based upon Americans' ______.
allegiance to common goals
As a discipline, political science relies upon ______, which requires critical thinking.
analysis
Which governing structure represses individuals and groups that oppose the regime?
authoritarianism
______ is the recognized right of officials to exercise power.
authority
Which of the following is a system based on rule of law, including legal protections for individuals, empowering individuals by enabling them to claim their rights in court?
constitutional
The idea that there are lawful restrictions on government power is called ______.
constitutionalism
Which of the following is a system of majority rule through elections, empowering majorities, groups, and officials?
democratic
Some misinformation is expected, but widespread misinformation is dangerous because it makes ______.
effective government difficult
Americans have a(n) ______ view of their rights and freedoms.
expansive
Which of the following is an economic system that centers on the transactions between private parties?
free market
______________ is the principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, provided they do not infringe on the freedoms of others.
liberty
An elite few hold the power to govern in which of these forms of government?
oligarchy
Basic to politics is ______, which is needed to influence political developments.
political power
Which of these ideals encompasses the principle that the people are the ultimate source of government authority and should have a voice in their governing?
self-government
As practiced today, ______ is a system in which the government stresses economic equality and owns a number of major industries.
socialism
Pluralism asserts that, on most issues, the actors who exercise the most influence over government policy are ______.
special interest groups
Participants in a free-market economy depend primarily on which of the following for their economic security?
themselves reason: These groups are more relevant to politics and pluralism.
In America, majoritarianism occurs mainly ______.
through competition between the Republican and Democratic parties
A country's political culture derives from its ______.
traditions
